The Broken Legacy of Sammy Davis, Jr.

Equal parts cultual history, celebrity biography, and brilliant investigative journalism, Deconstructing Sammyis a behind-the-scenes look at the disastrous fall of one of the brightest stars of Hollywood and Las Vegas. A member of the infamous Rat Pack, a compatriot of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, and one of the most popular performers of his day, Sammy Davis, Jr. was an entertainment icon and a national treasure. Yet following his death from throat cancer in 1990, his great name all but vanished. With more than $15 million in debts, Sammy's home and posessions were sold, his troubled widow Altovise lived in poverty in Pennsylvania, and Sammy's great name and legacy all but vanished. Today, he is just a footnote to history. What happened? Why did Sammy's star fall so far? And what were the dark forces that led to Sammy's demise?Deconstructing Sammytells the whole, sad, astounding and fascinating story.